The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 21

out the heathen before it. He had planted it “in a very fruitful hill.” His
guardian care had hedged it about. His servants had been sent to nurture
it. “What could have been done more to My vineyard,” He exclaims,
“that I have not done in it?” Isaiah 5:1-4. Though when He looked that
it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes, yet with a still
yearning hope of fruitfulness He came in person to His vineyard, if haply
it might be saved from destruction. He digged about His vine; He pruned
and cherished it. He was unwearied in His efforts to save this vine of His
own planting.
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out
among His people. He “went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil,” binding up the brokenhearted, setting at liberty
them that were bound, restoring sight to the blind, causing the lame to
walk and the deaf to hear, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and
preaching the gospel to the poor. Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5.
To all classes alike was addressed the gracious call: “Come unto Me, all
ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew
11:28.
Though rewarded with evil for good, and hatred for His love (Psalm
109:5), He had steadfastly pursued His mission of mercy. Never were
those repelled that sought His grace. A homeless wanderer, reproach
and penury His daily lot, He lived to minister to the needs and lighten
the woes of men, to plead with them to accept the gift of life. The waves
of mercy, beaten back by those stubborn hearts, returned in a stronger
tide of pitying, inexpressible love. But Israel had turned from her best
Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His love had been despised,
His counsels spurned, His warnings ridiculed.
The hour of hope and pardon was fast passing; the cup of God’s
long-deferred wrath was almost full. The cloud that had been gathering
through ages of apostasy and rebellion, now black with woe, was about
to burst upon a guilty people;

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